28th October 2024

Volunteer Leadership – A balancing act

There are many factors that shape volunteer management – and the dynamic relationship between volunteer managers and volunteers is one of them. New research looking at the lived experience of volunteer managers and volunteers gives us insight into best practice.

Volunteer Development Advisor Helen Fleming recently completed an MSc in Psychology, focusing on the topic of volunteer leadership. In this new practice briefing, Helen unpacks her research findings and shares practical tips for volunteer managers.

Helen’s research focused on the experiences of volunteer leaders (often referred to as volunteer managers) in UK charities. Her research investigated whether volunteer leaders require specific people management skills that differ from managing employees. Based on eight interviews with volunteer leaders, Helen identified four key themes:

A wide range of volunteering experience and knowledge is necessary for successful volunteer leadership.
There can be challenges balancing the expectations and motivations of volunteers with those of the organisation.
Collaboration and synergy are essential in achieving the charity’s mission.
Volunteer communication should consider volunteers’ preferences, which can depend on what people of different generations prefer.

To find out more about this research and how you can apply its findings to your work, check out Helen’s practice briefing.

If you would like to know more about this research project or would like a research summary, please email helen.fleming@owlandforest.co.uk